Celebrate Italian Culture & Cuisine At The Belmar San Gennaro Festival
- May 3
- 3 min read
You don't have to be of Italian descent to enjoy the Belmar Feast of San Gennaro at the Jersey Shore. This annual celebration of Italian culture and cuisine takes place September 12, 2026, in downtown Belmar, New Jersey, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
In addition to food truck fare such as sausage and peppers, pasta and zeppole, you'll find live music and a vendor market along the Belmar Italian San Gennaro Festival route between 10th and 12th Avenues.
A special Mass of Gennaro Festival mass will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, at St. Rose Catholic Church in Belmar. The Mass will be presented in Italian. Immediately after Mass, join the procession down Main Street, where the Statue of San Gennaro will be proudly displayed in the center of Pyanoe Plaza for all to see and honor. The tradition of pinning money onto the statue will continue as donations to St. Rose Church.
Shops and restaurants throughout Belmar will also be open during the event, so be sure to explore the downtown business district while you're at the festival. Make sure to visit our friends at Caffè di Famiglia, who will be selling a selection of Italian-style sandwiches, snacks, and desserts in front of their coffee shop at 917 Main Street.
Check out our Belmar shopping and dining guide!
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Dog Costume Contest
Saturday, September 12, 3:00 p.m.
Pyanoe Plaza Main Stage
Dress up your furry canine friends for the third annual Cagnolino (Doggie) Costume Contest at the Belmar San Gennaro Festival. To pre-register your dog, complete this form by September 1:
Visit https://forms.gle/AHSxnRBoAfvAcpcX6 or stop by Belmar Borough Hall, 601 Main Street, Belmar, New Jersey 07719.
Contest Rules:
Dogs only - no other pets or animals permitted.
Dogs must wear ID tag, be on a leash, and under the owner's control at all times.
Owners assume full responsibility for the behaviors and actions of their dog.
Dress to impress — your dog, that is! 🐶
Cannoli-Eating Contest Presented By Sweet!
Saturday, September 12, 12:00 p.m.
Two divisions: Adults and kids (age 12 and under)
$25.00 cash entry fee - 100% to be donated to charity
A highlight of the Belmar San Gennaro festival is the cannoli-eating contest sponsored by Sweet!, a family-owned candy and confection shop on 10th Avenue in the downtown business district. Proceeds from the $25.00 admission fee will be donated to Friends of Belmar Skatepark, which is working to bring a modern public skateboard facility to Dempsey Park in Belmar.
In previous years, proceeds from the cannoli-eating contest were donated to the Belmar Elementary School; Saint Vincent de Paul Society of St. Rose Parish, a local faith-based charitable organization that helps community members in need of assistance with housing, medical expenses, clothing, transportation, food, and other basic necessities; Belmar Circle of Friends HYDAS, a non-profit that benefits young adults with special needs; and to MidAtlantic Bulldog Rescue for the medical care of their bulldogs in need.
All participants in the Sweet! cannoli-eating contest will receive a commemorative T-shirt, a $25.00 Sweet! gift certificate, a custom trophy, and recognition on a custom-engraved plaque displayed in the shop for all to see. To register, visit Sweet! at 702 10th Avenue, Belmar, New Jersey 07719.
RELATED: Visit Belmar, New Jersey
Belmar San Gennaro Festival Vendor Signups
Interested in being part of the vendor market at the Feast of San Gennaro in Belmar? The Borough is looking for local New Jersey food trucks and crafters. Submit your application here via this form, or call 732-681-3700, ext. 240.
Belmar San Gennaro Festival 2026
Saturday, September 12, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Pyanoe Plaza and Downtown Belmar Main Street and 9th Avenue
Belmar, New Jersey 07719
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